Answer:

It depends on what size/kind of rock you want to use.

Let's start with what I'll assume is the largest rock one would use in a rock garden - 3 to 5 in.
River Rock:

1 Ton will cover about 80 sq. ft. if you want to make sure there are no "holes"

1 to 3 in. River Rock:

1 Ton will cover about 100 sq. ft. (no holes)

3/4 in. Rock:

1 Ton will cover about 150 sq. feet at 1.5" deep... & 120 sq. ft. at 2" deep

3/8 in. Rock - or crusher finds cover about the same as 3/4 in. Rock, but when using smaller
rock, I like to cover at least 2" deep because there's more of a tendency for smaller rock to move
around & settle, and you want to make sure you aren't looking at the weed barrier in half a year.

The answer depends on how deep the coverage will be.

River Rock weighs 2,800 LBS. per cubic yard - That's 1.4 tons per cubic yard.

One ton = 2,000 LBS. 2,000 divided by 2,800 equals roughly 0.71. So one ton of river rock is
roughly 0.71 cubic yards.

0.71 cubic yards covers roughly 230 square feet 1" deep
0.71 cubic yards covers roughly 115 square feet 2" deep
0.71 cubic yards covers roughly 77 square feet 3" deep
0.71 cubic yards covers roughly 57 square feet 4" deep
0.71 cubic yards covers roughly 38 square feet 5" deep

Mining engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the practice, the theory, the
science, the technology, and application of extracting and processing minerals from a naturally
occurring environment. Mining engineering also includes processing minerals for additional
value.

The need for mineral extraction and production is an essential activity of modern society. Mining
activities by their nature cause a disturbance of the environment in and around which the
minerals are located. Modern mining engineers must therefore be concerned not only with the
production and processing of mineral commodities, but also with the mitigation of damage to the
environment as a result of that production and processing.

Contents
 • 1 History of mining engineering
• 2 Salary and statistics
• 3 Mineral exploration
o 3.1 Mineral discovery
o 3.2 Mineral determination
o 3.3 Feasibility study
• 4 Mining operation
o 4.1 Surface mining
o 4.2 Mining process
 4.2.1 Blasting
• 5 Mining health and safety
o 5.1 United States
• 6 Mining and the environment
o 6.1 United States
• 7 See also
• 8 References

• 9 External links

History of mining engineering

Since the beginning of civilization people have used stone and ceramics and, later, metals found
on or close to the Earth's surface. These were used to manufacture early tools and weapons. For
example, high quality flint found in northern France and southern England were used to set fire
and break rock.[1] Flint mines have been found in chalk areas where seams of the stone were
followed underground by shafts and galleries. The oldest known mine on archaeological record
is the "Lion Cave" in Swaziland. At this site, which radiocarbon dating inidcates to be about
43,000 years old, paleolithic humans mined mineral hematite, which contained iron and was
ground to produce the red pigment ochre.[2][3]

The ancient Romans were innovators of mining engineering. They developed large scale mining
methods, perhaps most notably the use of large volumes of water brought to the minehead by
numerous aqueducts for hydraulic mining. The exposed rock was then attacked by fire-setting
where fires were used to heat the rock, which would be quenched with a stream of water. The
thermal shock cracked the rock, enabling it to be removed. In some mines the Romans utilized
water-powered machinery such as reverse overshot water-wheels. These were used extensively
in the copper mines at Rio Tinto in Spain, where one sequence comprised 16 such wheels
arranged in pairs, lifting water about 80 feet (24 m).[4]

Black powder was first used in mining in Banská Štiavnica, Kingdom of Hungary (present-day
Slovakia) in 1627.[5] This allowed blasting of rock and earth to loosen and reveal ore veins,
which was much faster than fire-setting. The Industrial Revolution saw further advances in
mining technologies, including improved explosives and steam-powered pumps, lifts, and drills.
Mineral exploration
Main article: Mineral exploration

Mining engineers are consulted for virtually every stage of a mining operation. The first role of
engineering in mines is the discovery of a mineral deposit and the determination of the
profitability of a mine.

Mineral discovery

Mining engineers are involved in the mineral discovery stage by working with geologists to
identify a mineral reserve. The first step in discovering an ore body is to determine what
minerals to test for. Geologists and engineers drill core samples and conduct surface surveys
searching for specific compounds and ores. For example, a mining engineer and geologist may
target metallic ores such as galena for lead or chalcolite for copper. A mining engineer may also
search for a non-metal such as phosphate, quartz, or coal.

The discovery can be made from research of mineral maps, academic geological reports or local,
state, and national geological reports. Other sources of information include property assays, well
drilling logs, and local word of mouth. Mineral research may also include satellite and airborne
photographs. Unless the mineral exploration is done on public property, the owners of the
property may play a significant role in the exploration process, and may be the original
discoverer of the mineral deposit.[8]

Mineral determination

After a prospective mineral is located, the mining engineer then determines the ore properties.
This may involve chemical analysis of the ore to determine the composition of the sample. Once
the mineral properties are identified, the next step is determining the quantity of the ore. This
involves determining the extent of the deposit as well as the purity of the ore.[9] The engineer
drills additional core samples to find the limits of the deposit or seam and calculates the quantity
of valuable material present in the deposit.

Feasibility study
Main article: Mining feasibility study

Once the mineral identification and reserve amount is reasonably determined, the next step is to
determine the feasibility of recovering the mineral deposit. A preliminary study shortly after the
discovery of the deposit examines the market conditions such as the supply and demand of the
mineral, the amount of ore needed to be moved to recover a certain quantity of that mineral as
well as analysis of the cost associated with the operation. This pre-feasibility study determines
whether the mining project is likely to be profitable; if it is then a more in-depth analysis of the
deposit is undertaken. After the full extent of the ore body is known and has been examined by
engineers, the feasibility study examines the cost of initial capital investment, methods of
extraction, the cost of operation, an estimated length of time to payback, the gross revenue and
net profit margin, any possible resale price of the land, the total life of the reserve, the total value
of the reserve, investment in future projects, and the property owner or owners' contract. In
addition, environmental impact, reclamation, possible legal ramifications and all government
permitting are considered.[10][11] These steps of analysis determine whether the mine company
should proceed with the extraction of the minerals or whether the project should be abandoned.
The mining company may decide to sell the rights to the reserve to a third party rather than
develop it themselves, or the decision to proceed with extraction may be postponed indefinitely
until market conditions become favorable.

Mining operation
Mining engineers working in an established mine may work as an engineer for operations
improvement, further mineral exploration, and operation capitalization by determining where in
the mine to add equipment and personnel. The engineer may also work in supervision and
management, or as an equipment and mineral salesperson. In addition to engineering and
operations, the mining engineer may work as an environmental, health and safety manager or
design engineer.

The act of mining required different methods of extraction depending on the mineralogy,
geology, and location of the resources. Characteristics such as mineral hardness, the mineral
stratification, and access to that mineral will determine the method of extraction.

Generally, mining is either done from the surface or underground. Mining can also occur with
both surface and underground operations taking place on the same reserve. Mining activity varies
as to what method is employed to remove the mineral.

Surface mining

Surface comprises 90% of the world's mineral tonnage output. Also called open pit mining,
surface mining is removing minerals in formations that are at or near the surface. Ore retrieval is
done by material removal from the land in its natural state. Surface mining often alters the land
characteristics, shape, topography, and geological make-up.

Surface mining involves quarrying which is excavating minerals by means of machinery such as
cutting, cleaving, and breaking. Explosives are usually used to facilitate breakage. Hard minerals
such as limestone, sand, gravel, and slate are generally quarried into a series of benches.

Strip mining is done on softer minerals such as clays and phosphate are removed through use of
mechanical shovels, track dozers, and front end loaders. Softer Coal seams can also be extracted
this way.

With placer mining, minerals can also be removed from the bottoms of lakes, rivers, streams, and
even the ocean by dredge mining. In addition, in-situ mining can be done from the surface using
dissolving agents on the ore body and retrieving the ore via pumping. The pumped material is
then set to leach for further processing. Hydraulic mining is utilized in forms of water jets to
wash away either overburden or the ore itself.[12]
Mining process

Blasting

Explosives are used to break up a rock formation and aid in the collection of ore in a process
called blasting. There are two types of explosives that can be used in mining: high velocity and
low velocity. High velocity blasting uses high explosives while low velocity blasting is done
with low explosives. Engineers determine the placement of the explosive charges and the blast
sequence to efficiently and safely loosen the maximum amount of ore. They also are responsible
for the safety of the miners by determining how best to support the rock ceiling in the newly-
formed cave.

Mining health and safety

The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the
United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December
2010)

Main article: Mine Safety and Health Administration

Legal attention to Mining Health and Safety began in the late 19th century and in the subsequent
20th century progressed to a comprehensive and stringent codification of enforcement and
mandatory health and safety regulation. A mining engineer in whatever role they occupy must
follow all federal, state, and local mine safety laws.

United States
Main article: Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977

The United States Congress, through the passage of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
1977, known as the Miner's Act, created the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
under the US Department of Labor.

This comprehensive Act provides miners with rights against retaliation for reporting violations,
consolidated regulation of coal mines with metallic and nonmetallic mines, and created the
independent Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission to review MSHA's reported
violations.[13]

The Act as codified in Code of Federal Regulations § 30 (CFR § 30) covers all miners at an
active mine. When a mining engineer works at an active mine he or she is subject to the same
rights, violations, mandatory health and safety regulations, and mandatory training as any other
worker at the mine. The mining engineer can be legally identified as a "miner."[14]

The Act establishes the rights of miners. The miner may report at any time a hazardous condition
and request an inspection. The miners may elect a miners' representative to participate during an
inspection, pre-inspection meeting, and post-inspection conference. The miners and miners'
representative shall be paid for their time during all inspections and investigations.[15]

Mining and the environment

United States
The examples and perspective in this article deal primarily with the
United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject.
Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December
2010)

A mining engineer may be involved at the end of the mine life cycle when mine reclamation
operations are planned and carried out. They also decide how to close a mine that has ceased
operations to keep the public safe.

Land reclamation is regulated for surface and underground mines according to the Surface
Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. The law creates as a part of the Department of
Interior, the Bureau of Surface Mining (OSM). OSM states on their website, “OSM is charged
with balancing the nation’s need for continued domestic coal production with protection of the
environment.”

The law requires that states set up their own Reclamation Departments and legislate laws related
to reclamation for coal mining operations. The states may impose additional regulations and
regulate other minerals in addition to coal for land reclamation.

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/mining-engineering#ixzz1MnV1tTrB